Legends of Orijon: Fight for Redemption

By F.J.J. Delegato

The land of Orijon has been ravaged by the selfish rule of the usurper king, Malos Tabis. Many have lost their homes, families, and the hope to live. But even the darkest night must yield to the spark of the dawn. A voice calls out to the true heir to the throne, Leonidas Orijonno, begging him to return. Leonidas led a simple life among the people of Sulson, the kingdom of the south. There he had grown-up and learned their ways. What was he to Orijon? Often, he had dreamed of returning to the land of his father and freeing her people from the oppression they endured. But is such a move too bold? Can a mere outsider, unknown to the people, challenge the one who now sits upon the throne? So much has happened, and so many years have passed. Is there anyone left in Orijon even willing to fight for redemption?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781645446484

Book preview

Passing Shadows

Marina moved quickly through the thicket doing her best to keep up with the others. She had to move fast while simultaneously being aware of the brush in between the trees. One wrong step could cause her to trip and fall. Traveling at night also provided its challenges but she wasn’t concerned about that right now. Her mind was focused on the task that lie ahead.

Upon coming out of the thick tree line, Marina found that the others had stopped. They stood in a circle gathered around the leader of the excursion.

I want several of you to set up on the other side of the road, he said in a strong, commanding voice. Prepare to hit them from the left. The rest of us will hit them from the right. Understood? Let’s go!

As the others moved on to take their positions, Marina made her way to the leader.

Cassius, she said. Are you sure the transport will come this way?

Cassius was stoic and still, a trait shared by their father. He wasn’t much for talk but preferred action. As he turned to look at his sister, Cassius removed the hood that covered his face revealing his feline Alminoid lineage: high cheek bones, large feline eyes and ears, and a thin layer of dark fur covering his face.

It will be here, he responded sternly. It’s got to be.

Marina gave no response but turned and watched the road. The road was nestled in between two hills that were thickly covered with trees. It was the perfect spot for an ambush.

Hours passed, and Marina was increasingly becoming concerned.

Perhaps we should have waited like Papa wanted?

Cassius immediately became indignant at the idea.

We can’t wait! he nearly shouted. Do you want to stand by and allow our brother to be shamed? Tortured? Killed? Or shaved? No, no, I won’t stand for it! Papa may be willing to sacrifice our brother’s honor but not me. I’ll die first!

Marina could understand Cassius’ outrage. After all, she loved her brother Remus too. But it seemed that Cassius was letting the close attachment to his brother cloud his better judgment. Before any more could be said, the two picked up on a sound in the distance.

Here they are! Cassius whispered.

Marina intently stared through the night. As one sound turned into many sounds and became louder, she could make out two medium-sized land skiffs gliding along on either side of a much-larger vessel drawn by four Mu-lils. The sheer scale of the transport with its barrage of soldiers leading and following was beyond what any of them had expected.

By the tusks of a Coralack fish! Marina said to herself in surprise.

Dorian, Cassius snapped. Signal Jaro to begin the attack.

Dorian, a reptilian Alminoid, smiled and nodded. He took out a small signaling device and pointed the light toward the opposite side of the road. Without warning, there came a guttural roar and a bovine Alminoid with long horns atop his head came charging out of the tree line. He head-butted the transport causing it to lean. He eventually forced it off to the side of the road. The Mu-lils moaned with anxiety, nearly tangling their legs together as they were compelled to move with the transport. The other Alminoids soon rushed in taking on the soldiers. While the regular grunt soldiers were thrown into a state of disarray by the surprise attack, the king’s elite Black Guard remained calm. They stood shoulder to shoulder with weapons in hand.

Ignite! came the call from the commander.

The guards tapped the ground with their spears. Suddenly, bolts of blue electricity shot out from the base of the blade to its tip. They then lowered their spears and began to move toward the attackers.

Watch the Black Guard! Cassius yelled out as they advanced.

Marina sprung forth as soon as the two sides came into contact. Although she and Cassius had the same parents, Marina took more after their mother with a petite body shape. This gave her an advantage in the fight. She was able to make her way quickly between the enemies’ line.

Get to the prisoners, she repeated to herself as she ran. Get to Remus.

But soon Marina found herself face-to-face with a Black Guard.

Halt, beast! he cried.

This was it. Marina knew what she had to do. She crouched down in mid-step and pounced, knocking the guard down. The two rolled over and were soon back on their feet. Marina and the guard both had a grip on the spear.

Let go! the guard demanded.

Finally, Marina jerked the spear to the left causing the guard to lose his balance and fall. She now had the upper hand and the spear. Marina stood over him pointing the spear at his chest. She couldn’t see his face through the helmet, but she knew he was afraid and was expecting her to deal the fatal blow.

Instead, Marina turned and ran off, leaving him behind on the ground. Once she made it to the transport she wedged the spear into the side of the door. Again and again, she struck it using all her strength. Finally, the metal door came unhinged and Marina was able to open it. She gasped as soon as she caught sight of what lay inside. In the blink of an eye, Marina found herself being thrown across the battlefield in a burst of force. Seeing his sister in distress, Cassius ran to her side.

What happened?

Marina didn’t say a word. With wide eyes and a look of terror, she pointed to the door of the transport. Stepping down from the doorway was the witch, Endora. She was a striking figure that never seemed to change even after centuries of imprisonment. She still enjoyed the look and strength of youth but bore the scars of her dark magic; lifeless eyes without color or pupils and pale skin. Under those eyes were deeply imprinted dark scars as if made by tears which long ago had fallen to the ground. If she had a heart at one time those were the last indications of it. Endora began to move forward. Her long black dress glided along with her.

Cassius looked at her. This was now a fight for survival. He leaned down close to Marina.

Stick to the plan, he said. Get Remus out.

Marina couldn’t believe it. If anything, they should be retreating.

Do what I say! Cassius yelled as he ran toward the witch.

A guard stepped in front of him. Without thinking, Cassius instinctively pulled out his knife and drove it into the guard’s shoulder. The guard fell to his knees. Cassius then elbowed him in the head, knocking him down. Cassius continued to move. He kept one goal in mind—distract the witch. He finally reached his target. Taking the bloody knife, Cassius tried to strike but before he could Endora hit him with her arm. Cassius became unbalanced and dropped his weapon. Endora then reached out her hand. A black substance resembling flames formed around her pale fingers. There soon came a flash.

Cassius was thrown quite a distance. He landed on his back near the side of the road. The intense heat given off by the blast was excruciating. Smoke emitted from Cassius’ arms and face. He quickly clenched his teeth tightly to keep himself from screaming. Upon opening his eyes, Cassius found he could no longer see anything. A keen sense of hearing picked up the remaining sounds of battle. Things seemed to have taken a turn for the worst. He knew the voices of each of his friends as they cried out in pain. Amid all the noise though, there was one distinct sound, that of footprints. Cassius knew the witch was now standing over him.

Go to hell, he said.

Funny, came Endora’s response. That’s just where I was about to send you.

Cassius turned his face to the side, waiting for something to happen. Suddenly, the witch yelled out in surprise. Cassius turned toward the uproar but still couldn’t see. As his eyes slowly regained their sight, he could make out two figures struggling. It soon became clear who the two where—the witch and his twin brother, Remus.

Remus had picked up the knife Cassius had dropped, jumped upon the witch, and thrusted the weapon into her side. He kept his arm around her neck to keep her from retaliating.

After a few seconds, Endora screamed, Enough!

She opened her arms and there came another blast which emanated from her whole being. Remus was cast to the ground. The witch then grabbed him by the throat.

That’s enough! she repeated and threw Remus into the side of the transport.

A terrorizing echo pierced through the air as he came in contact with the metal frame of the vehicle. He then fell to the ground with no chance of ever getting up again. Cassius tried to force himself to his feet, but the burning pain was too much. He looked up and saw that the witch had now turned her attention to him. She was bleeding with the knife still in her side. She calmly took hold of the hilt, pulled out the blade and tossed it aside. Black smoke surrounded the wound, healing her instantly. Cassius began inching away, pulling himself by the ground. He soon found himself rising and then floating through the air. Using her magic, Endora pulled him toward her.

Give up? she mockingly asked.

Cassius looked around. His brother lay motionless on the cold ground. Many of his friends who had not been killed were being rounded up by the guard. Everything appeared hopeless.

I’ll never give up fighting the darkness! he said. You can take this life from me but in the end, I’ll live on and you…you will just be dust to the wind…a passing shadow!

Aren’t we all just passing shadows? Endora responded.

At that moment, the captain of the Black Guard approached.

Mistress, he said. Several of the attackers have escaped along with three of the prisoners. What shall we do with the remaining dissidences?

Execution. And we’ll start with their leader.

With that, the Dark Mistress pushed Cassius up against a tree. She took a step forward.

Do you feel that pressure in your chest? she asked. It’s your heart, about to be crushed under its own weight.

Endora was ready. All she had to do was squeeze but something caught her attention. A voice. It sounded so far away but at the same time so near.

Help me! Endora, help me!

Endora became disturbed and lost focus. Cassius fell to the ground. Endora quickly calmed herself and prepared to try again. But as Cassius began to groan with pain, the voice repeated itself. Again, Endora lost her focus. She shook her head, trying desperately to ignore the voice but it still called to her. The captain of the guard wasn’t sure what was happening. The witch never hesitated to kill before.

Mistress? he said perplexed.

Endora made no motion or acknowledgment.

You take care of him, Captain, she said coldly. He is not worth my time. She turned and walked away.

Yes, mistress.

A Dream Not Forgotten

C ome now, Leonidas, Yosef said, trying to urge the young prince on. Don’t let your opponent get the better of you.

The sound of metal on metal pierced through the air as blade came down upon blade. Leonidas was soon in a deadlock with his sparring partner, a Sulson soldier much older and more experienced than he. Leonidas found himself being slowly pushed back. Yosef became irritated at seeing his hardest working student forced to the sandy ground.

Stop! That’s enough, he yelled out.

The soldier relented. He held out a hand to help Leonidas up. The two then faced each other and bowed respectfully. Yosef quickly approached Leonidas as the soldier walked away.

What was that? he asked in disappointment. You haven’t lost a fight since you were thirteen, what’s wrong?

Yosef was a tall man with a touch of gray at his temples and scattered throughout his beard. He had been Leonidas’s teacher since his birth and had come to be a father figure to the young man.

Leonidas stood still trying to calm his breathing. His appearance was that of a strapping young man of average build with a thin newly formed beard around his jaw. His hazel-colored eyes possessed a penetrating gaze which seemed to demand respect.

Leonidas wiped the sweat from his brow.

I’m sorry, Yosef, he said looking up at his teacher. My mind has been on other things lately.

Yosef became concerned.

A soldier shouldn’t let thoughts of any kind distract him in battle. Come now, what things?

Leonidas walked over to a bench which stood up against the white stone wall surrounding the training arena. He set his sword down upon it and began to unbind his hands of the cloth straps they were wrapped in.

Just things, he repeated.

Yosef crossed his arms and leaned up against the wall which provided shade from the hot desert sun.

Tell me, Leonidas, he said in a fatherly tone.

It’s nothing really, Leonidas paused and looked at Yosef. He finally relented. It’s…it’s just…these dreams I have been having. I can’t stop thinking about them. And they’re the same every night…or at least have been for some time now.

Yosef was silent for a moment then he said rather seriously, Tell me about these dreams.

Leonidas didn’t seem to know where to begin. He sat down on the bench.

"Well, like I said, it’s always the same. I find myself alone in the woods. There is snow and ice covering the ground. The trees are bare, and the sky is clear but with no moon or stars showing. And there’s…there’s this voice calling out. Is sounds like a young girl on the brink of tears…but I can’t be sure. Help me! Help me king of Orijon! You promised you would help me! As I being to walk through, the bark of the trees melts away and they appear as pillars of ice. Just beneath the surface of the ice, in the heart of each one, I can see figures…figures of people. Their bodies are twisted as if in pain. As I look around I notice one pillar that stands taller than the rest. I don’t know why but I begin to approach it. And once again the voice calls out. I can barely see the misshapen figure within the ice, but I can tell it’s looking at me. Finally, it lunges toward me and that is when I wake."

After finishing his recount of the dream, Leonidas quickly stood up with agitation.

It’s just a silly dream, right? he said with a nervous laugh.

Yosef contemplated what Leonidas had told him.

There is an old theory among wise men, he finally said. A dream can come as a warning of what will happen or an order of what you must do.

He walked over to Leonidas and put his hand on his shoulder.

By birth, you are the rightful King of Orijon. You are her shepherd. I think this dream is to call back the exiled king.

Call back the exiled king? What are you saying? Yosef, I can’t just pick up and leave, Leonidas sighed. Leave the life I have here. It’s not that easy. Besides, I…I don’t know anything about Orijon. I don’t belong there.

You know what your mother has told you, Yosef said strongly. And as for belonging…you belong there more than you do here.

Leonidas turned away disheartened.

You were not meant to live this life, Leonidas, Yosef continued. "The life that was for